The Lake Kivu and Ruzizi River Project // GIZ Hosts Training of Key stakeholders to Ensure Data Sustainability for the Lake Kivu and Ruzizi/Rusizi River Basin Project

This article presents the results of the training workshop for key basin stakeholders to ensure data sustainability for the project co-financed by the EU and the BMZ, “Support to the integrated management of water resources of lake Kivu and Ruzizi River,” which took place at Hotel Chez Lando in Kigali, Rwanda on September 1st 2022.

The goal of the workshop was to ensure the sustainability of data collected by the GIZ-implemented project. Relevant stakeholders from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda were invited and trained in a hybrid format on the models and software used in two of the most relevant reports produced by GIZ, the “Baseline Study for the Basin of Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River” conducted by SHER Consult LLC and the “Assessment and Monitoring of Soil Erosion Risk Parameters in the Transboundary Region of Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River Basin” conducted by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

The invited participants were those with a foundational understanding of QGIS (Quantum GIS), Earth Observations Data, and Modeling (ex. CROM, RUSLE, and Water Balance) in order to successfully participate in the workshop. Prior to the training, participants were provided with the raw from both reports, as well as the software to be used during the training. The workshop attracted 17 participants from the online team, which consisted of NGOs and research institutions working in the basin from Burundi and DR Congo. From Rwanda, 16 participants attended in person, representing various institutions from Rwanda. These were namely faculty heads from University of Rwanda and INES RUHENGERI, GIS specialists from the Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Mining and Petroleum Board, and Rwanda Housing Authority. GIZ project grant recipients ICRAF, ARCOS, and the Official University of Bukavu also attended. The Rwanda Water Resources Board was represented by its GIS specialist and the Head of Knowledge and Forecast Hub Mr. MUSANA Bernard, who provided excellent interventions during the workshop, which helped to bring context and usefulness of the data.

Outcomes

In the morning, Kristine Herbomel (Project Manager) gave a background of the project and its achievements so far, welcomed the participants to the training, and encouraged them to actively participate during the training. The team from SHER Consult LLC managed the morning session and provided very detailed explanations about the models and respective factors used during the Basin Baseline Study. The session concluded with a practical exercise and a session of question and answers. The session was given in French. In the afternoon, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) team took over and provided detailed explanations on the steps taken during the study, “Assessment and Monitoring of Soil Erosion Risk Parameters in the Transboundary Region of Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River Basin”. Data, tools and project outcomes were explained to participants to help them grasp the needed steps for data manipulation and results production.

Next steps

The workshop concluded in the afternoon with a questions and answers session where SHER and DLR trainers and stakeholders engaged in discussions on the way forward and how best they can continue to work together to explore the produced data, to increase their knowledge, and to use the tools and models presented on various studies, policy analyses and other problem-solving initiatives in the basin.

Related Articles

• The Lake Kivu and Ruzizi River Project // Consultation Workshop: Strengthening legal frameworks for transboundary water resources management in the Lake Kivu and Rusizi / Ruzizi River Basin
• Nexus Fact Sheet // Support of the water resources management at Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River
• Project // Support to the Integrated Management of Water Resources of Lake Kivu and Ruzizi River
• Report // Baseline Study for the Basin of Lake Kivu and the Ruzizi River